Steam washing machine



April 5, 1932. T. J, M DONALD STEAM WASHING MACHINE Sheets Sheet Filed May 11, 1926 m n W A I W I ,0 0 0 0 Thomas J. M Dana/a1.

A riifi, 1&32. '\-V J. M DONALD STEAM WASHING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 7/10ma5 J. f/Dona/d,

Patented Apr. 5, 1932 reta n THOMAS J. MCDONALD, OFNEW YORK, NZY.

STEAM wasrame Macrame Application filed May 11,

The present invention relates to a washing apparatus, and more particularly to an mproved steam washing machine for cleaning clothes and other articles,'and which may also be used for steaming, pumping, sterilizing and cooking purposes.

An essential feature of the invention is to provide means for causing a violent agitation of the water in the tub so as to thoroughly clean and aerate the articles being washed.

A further object of the invention consists in associating a water heater with a nozzle positioned in the tub, which is constructed to independently deliver steam under pressure and preheated air to the nozzle. The nozzle preferably being formed of separate sections which partially telescope with one another to allow the water in the tub to be drawn into the nozzle and mixed with the air and steam before being ejected into the tub.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a housing for the nozzle, which housing is so formed as to cause the articles that impinge upon it during the washing operation to be deflected upwardly and inwardly, thus loosening the clothes and preventing them from balling up.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims. V

Referring to the drawings wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steam washing machine.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional viewot' Figure 1 on an enlarged scale.

Figure l is a sectional view taken substantially along the line of Figure 3. l 2

Figure 5 is a detailed sectionalview of the nozzle construction.

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view of the ejector.

Referring to thedrawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts in the several views, 10 denotes a metallic washing tub or container of any suitable shape which is supported by the legs 11. A boiler or steam genieea Serial 110.108,?59.

erator12 is connected to the outside ofthe tub 10 bythe straps 13 and '1 and the'bolts or rivets 15 so that the heat emitted from the boiler may be'utilized for raising the temperature of the tub and'its contents. The boiler 12, in addition to being used forheating water inthe tub, mayyalso be used 'to'heat liquids or solids in a container outside of the tub.

Cold water or other fluid is'fdelivered to a pre-heater 16 through the pipe 17 that is controlled by a valve 18. 'The steam from the tub 10-is arranged to be conducted to' the preheater so as to preliminarily-heat the water therein in a manner hereinafter described. The water in the pre-heater 16 is conducted by a pipe 19 to a manually operated pump ".20 from where it is forced under pressure through a pipe 21 into the boiler. 'Pre'ferably the water delivers to the lowerend of a tube or water header 22 positioned centrally within the boiler 12, said tube having its upper end communicating with a tank or steam chamber 23'. A series of watercoils 24, preferably six in number, surround the tube 22 and each communicates with the same at the lower end 25, while their upper extremities are connected to the bottom of the tank 23. A. burner 26 positioned infthe boiler 12 below the. coils 24 isarran'ged to heat the same so as to cause the water in the tank 23 to circulate ,down thetube 22 and up the coils 24; the water as it passes up through the coils 24 being generated into steam The pipe 21 is provided with-a self-opening. and self-closing check valve 21, which is constructed so that when the pump 20 is "being operated and water forced intothefboiler, it will be moved to its open position, due to the greater pressure againstit on the'pum'p-side of the valve, thus allowin g the war from the pump to flow into the boiler. On the other hand, when the pump isnot in'operation, the pressure on this side of the valve will be released and the same will be closed by the pres sure in the boiler. i

A coil air tube 27 encircles a portion of the tank 23, so as to be heated thereby, and has a flared end 28 communicating with the atmosphere as shown in Figure 3,while' its opposite endcommunicates with a pipe 29, to which is connected a tube 30 which extends co-axially within the nozzle or jet 31. The nozzle 31 is preferably composed of a series of sections 32, 33 and 34 which partially telescope with one another in the manner as clearly shown in Figure 5.

Steamfrom the tank 23 is carried by the pipe 35 to a tapered passage 36, formed in one end of the nozzle, 31. The tube 30 on the air pipe 29, preferably projects beyond the flared opening 37 of the passage 36, and delivers into the conical'or funnel-shaped passage 38 in the section 32. The forward portionof the section 32 partially telescopes within a similar formed passage 39, in the section 33, which,-in;turn, projects into a passage 40, in the end section 34. Each of the sections 32, 33 and 34 respectively, have their inner ends flared outwardly so as to form a clearance or space for drawing in the water in the tub into the interior of the nozzle, where it mixes with the air. and steam from the boiler, and is ejected from the end section 34 with sufficient pressure to cause a violent agitation and stirring up of the articles being washed in the tub 10. I. The nozzle sections which may be of any desired number, are preferably separate and connected together by the bolts 41,

that extend through the laterally projecting lugs 42 on each of the said sections. Retaining nuts 43, threaded to the outerends of the bolts 41, tend to maintainthe parts in position, and alsopermit, the nozzle to be readily "dismantled.

Thenozzle 31 is preferably enclosed in a housi-ng44, which prevents the clothes from being drawn into the nozzle during the operation of the machine, said housingbeing provided with an opening'45, thataligns with the ,endsection 34 to allowthe fiuidunder pressuretobe delivered into the interior of the tub. Theside 44 of thehousing 44 is preferablycurved and inclined, so that the clothes; which impinge against it will be i the interior of the tub. A removable cover or baflle chamber 49 is adapted to fit within the neck 48, and has marginal annular flange 50, which engages a complementary flange, 51, onthe neck 48 so asto form a water-tight jointbetween the parts when the cover is in the closed position. Additionally, the cover 49 is provided with a substantially U-shaped portion 52, preferably integral therewith, that has an upwardly projecting baiile 53, and a central flanged opening 55, while the top. 54 of the cover is formed with depending bafiles 56 and 57 spaced between bafile which constitute a steam separator that imparts a tortuous passage to the steam delivered from the tub 10 to the preheater 16 through the pipe 58, thus preventing any of the fluid or suds in the tub from beingcarried The top'54 of the cover cating with the steam pipe 35, as shown in v Figure 1. Water is delivered to the ejector through the inlet 73 and the flexible tubing 7 (5 and is conducted to the tub through the outlet 74 and the flexible tubing 7 5, which tubing is of suiiicient length to extend throughthe opening 55 to the interior of the tub when the cover 49 is removed. Due to seen that the same may be utilizedfor emptying as well as filling the tub. Moreover, the steam from the boiler 12 may be conducted to the ejector through the pipe 72'so as to be mixed with the water and utilized for various other cleaning purposes. A valve ,76 on the pipe 72 is arranged to control'the supply of steam to the ejector.

Theoperation of the machine is as follows: Assumingthat the tub 10 is provided with a proper amount of water or other cleaning fluid and filled with clothes to be washed, the water in-the boiler or steam generator 12 is raised to-the boiling point by the burner 26. The steam from the tank or chamber 23 is introduced by the pipe 35 to the passage 36 in the nozzle 31 while the air is drawn in through the inlet 28 of the coil 27 around the steam chamber 23, where it is preliminarily heated'before being delivered by pipe 29 to the nozzle. The .air is sucked into the nozzle due'to the steam rushing through the nozzle creating a vacuum in the region of the outer end of the air tube 30. As the steam is conance between the sections of the nozzle so as to commingle with the air and steam, and be forced into the tub through the opening 45 the siphonic action of the ejector, it will be in the housing 44. The mixture of the air,

tub, means are provided for causing these.

clothes to be deflected upwardly and inwardly towards the center of the tub, which consists in the particular formation of the housing 44. Due to the centrifugal action of the water, there will be a tendency for the same to whirl around the periphery of the tub and cause an air space to be formed in the=center; for this reason it has been found desirable to position the casing 46 in the bottom of the tub, so that both the air and water will be drawn from the tub and delivered to the nozzle during'the washing operation.

The steam in the tub 10 escapes upwardly through the opening in the cover. and passes around the baffles where'itis delivered to the pipe 58, and conducted to the coil in the pre-heater for preliminarily warming the cold water before the same is delivered to the boiler 12. The steam as it circulates through the coil 60 is condensed by theco'ld water in the pre-heater and conducted to a suitable outlet through the pipe 69. It will: be seen that the water in the pre-heater is maintained at a lower temperature than the steam, due to the fact that the cold water will be continually replacing the warm water which is 0211'. ried to the boiler 12. a

The tank or steam chamber 23 is preferably provided with a steam safety valve 61, which projects through an opening in the top of the boiler 12. A water gauge 62and' a"steam gauge 63 are connected to the boiler so that the operator may maintain the proper water level and the proper steam pressure within the boiler. A valve 64 is attached to the lower end of the tube 22 for permitting the tank 23 to be drained. N f

The top 65 ofthe tub 10 may be removably mounted thereon and the pipe 58 may be pro vided with a breaking joint 66' so that the: cover and its associatedparts can be readily detached from the tub to allow a wire basket or a foraminated metallic drum (not shown) to be positioned within the tub, and thus permit dishes or other culinary articles to' be cleaned. Moreover, as the temperature of the water in the tub is quickly raised by the steam of the boiler 12, it will be seen that the machine may also be effectively used for cooking, steaming and sterilizing purposes. Ad ditionally, when it 1s desired to wash or clean.

articles not positioned inthe tub, the same can be readily effected-by conducting the steam from the boiler'12 to the ejector 7 0 and allowing it to commingle with the water, and deliveringthe mixture to anywsuitable point of use. In order to insure the safeoperation of the machine, a valve 67 is positioned in'the'top ofthe tub 10." The air pipe 29 is preferably provided with a valve 29, for cutting offthe-supply ofair-to'the interior of the tub while-the steam pipe 35,=has connected thereto a control valve 35 IA valve 64 on the pipe 58 may beoperated for regulating the amount of steam delivered from the interior 'of'the tub to the preheater 16.11. Any suitable type of Wr-inger may be associated with the machine for drying the clothes after they have been subjected to'the 1 washing operation.

It is to be understoodthat the form of the invention herewith shown and described is merelyillustrative and-in no sense restricf tlve, and that such changes. as come within the purview of one skilled in the art may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following the water in said tub intothe interiorof said nozzle for ejecting the same therefromwith.

the air and steam.

2. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, an ejector nozzle in said tub, a steam generator associated with the tub, means. de-

livering water under pressure tothe .gen-

erator, an. air pipe in the generator having one end communicatingwith the atmosphere and its opposite end delivering into said noze zle, means conducting the steam from the gen erator to and through said nozzle, and means i...

conductingthe water in said tub intothe interror of said nozzle. for-ejecting the same therefrom wlth the air and steam. 1

3. In a washing machine, the combination I of a tub, an ejector nozzle in said tub, a steam generator associated with said tub, means delivering water under pressure to said steam generator, an air pipe in said steam gen the atmosphere and its opposite end delivererator having one end communicating with ing to said nozzle,-mea'ns conducting the steam from said'stea'm generator to said nozzle, means conducting the water in said tub 7 into the interior: of saidjnozzle for ejecting the same therefrom withthe air and steam,

a pre-heaterpreliminarily.heating the water conducting the steam from said tubto said pre-heater. i

45. In a washing machine, thecombijnation delivered to the steam generator, and means ing to said nozzle, means conducting; the

steamsfrom, said steam generator to and through said nozzle, means-conducting the waterwin said tub 1nto the interior of said 7 nozzleifor ejeCting the'same therefrom with they air; 'andlstea-m, a. pre-heater for. prelimiIIRIHy fhEQtiDg the water delivered to s'aid steamgenerator,-means connecting said preheater withithe. tub whereby the steam is utilized to heat the pre-heater,andgmeans as soci'ated with the tub for preventing the. escape of water with saidsteain;

5. In a washingmachine, the combination ofi'a stub, an ejector nozzle in said tub, a steam generator associated with'sa-id tub, means delivering water under pressure to said steam generator, an air pipe in said steam generator having one end communicating with the atmosphere and its opposite end delivering to saidnozzle, means conducting the steam from said steam generator to and through said nozzle, means conducting the water in said tubinto the interior of said nozzle for ejecting the same therefrom with the air and,

steam, apre-heater preliminarily heating the water delivered ito said steam generator,

means connecting said pre-heater to the tub whereby the steam is utilized to heat the heater, and means in said tub for-preventing the escape of water with said steam, said means comprising a series of spaced bafiies positioned-in the neck of the tub;

6. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a sectionalnozzle in said tub, a steam generator associated with said tub, means delivering water under pressure to said steam generator,- an air pipe in said steam generator having oneend communicating with 'the atmosphere and its opposite end dellvering into said nozzle,-means conducting'the steam from said steam generator into and through said nozzle, a housing for said nozzle, said housing formed to throw the clothes impinging against it upwardly and inwardly during the washing operation, and means delivering the water from said tub through said housing and'into said nozzle to eject the same from the latter with the air and steam.

7. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, an. ejector nozzle in said tub, means independently introducing air andsteaminto one end of saidnozzle, and means conducting the liquid in the-tub into and through said nozzle for commingling with the air and steam soas to be e ected therewith from the I opposite end of the. nozzle.

8; Inawashing machine, the combination of a tub, an ejector nozzle in said tub, means independently introducing air and steam into and inwardly of the tub;

10. .In a steam washing machine, the combinationwith'a tub, a steam generator communicating with said tub,'.a ore-heater connected vto said steam generator and tub, means in. said tub and connectedwith said steam uid in the tub from being delivered with the steam to the pre-hea'ter. r v

12. Ina washing machine, the combination ofia tub, an ejector nozzle in said tub, a steam generator. associated with" the tub, means delivering water under pressure to said steam generator,;an air pipe in said steam generator having one end communicating-with the atmosphere and i'tsopposite end delivering into said nozzle,meansconductingthesteam' from said steamgenerator to said nozzle, means conducting the-water in said tub into the ins terior of the nozzle forejecting theasame therefrom with y the-air and steam, and an ejector operatively associated with the, steam generator for filling or emptying the tub.

13. In a washing machine, theoombination of a tub, a hollow: member communicating with the tub, said :i hollow c member comprising spaced overlapping sections, a1steam gen erator communicating with said hollow member, means delivering water tozsaid steam generator, an air pipe having one end communicating vwith the atmosphere and its opposite; end delivering to said member, means conducting the steam from said generator to and through said hollow member whereby the water in said tub is-forced through the space between said sections into the interior of the tub and ejected therefrom: with" the air and steam. J l

14:. In acombined washing machine," the combination ofia tub, a hollow member come muni-cating with the tub and comprising spaced overlapping sections, a steam genera- 7 5 housing for deflectingthelclothesupwardly V tor communicating with said tub, means delivering water to said steam generator, an

air pipe in said steam generator having one interior of the tub, said ejector having a wa-V ter inlet supply between the ends thereof provided with a flexible conduit, and means in said ejector for mixing the water and steam prior to their introduction into the tub through said first conduit and for withdrawing water from the tub through said conduit when said second conduit is disposed within the tub and steam is passed through said ejector.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set w my hand.

THOMAS J MCDONALD. 

